Background

Genome-wide gene expression profiling allows for identification of genes involved in the defense response of the host against pathogens. As presented here, transcriptomic analysis and bioinformatics tools were applied in order to identify genes expressed in the mammary gland parenchyma of cows naturally infected with coagulase-positive and coagulase-negative Staphylococci.

Results

In cows infected with coagulase-positive Staphylococci, being in 1st or 2nd lactation, 1700 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. However, examination of the 3rd or 4th lactations revealed 2200 DEGs. Gene ontology functional classification showed the molecular functions of the DEGs overrepresented the activity of cytokines, chemokines, and their receptors. In cows infected with coagulase-negative Staphylococci, in the 1st or 2nd lactations 418 DEGs, while in the 3rd or 4th lactations, 1200 DEGs were identified that involved in molecular functions such as protein, calcium ion and lipid binding, chemokine activity, and protein homodimerization. Gene network analysis showed DEGs associated with inflammation, cell migration, and immune response to infection, development of cells and tissues, and humoral responses to infections caused by both types of Staphylococci.

Conclusion

A coagulase-positive Staphylococci infection caused a markedly stronger host response than that of coagulase-negative, resulting in vastly increased DEGs. A significant increase in the expression of the FOS, TNF, and genes encoding the major histocompatibility complex proteins (MHC) was observed. It suggests these genes play a key role in the synchronization of the immune response of the cow’s parenchyma against mastitis-causing bacteria. Moreover, the following genes that belong to several physiological pathways (KEGG pathways) were selected for further studies as candidate genes of mammary gland immune response for use in Marker Assisted Selection (MAS): chemokine signaling pathway (CCL2, CXCL5, HCK, CCR1), cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) pathway (BOLA-DQA2, BOLA-DQA1, F11R, ITGAL, CD86), antigen processing and presentation pathway (CD8A, PDIA3, LGMN, IFI30, HSPA1A), and NOD-like receptor signaling pathway (TNF, IL8, IL18, NFKBIA).

In cows, disorders of mammary gland function are most often caused by inflammation from a bacterial infection as the main mastitis pathogens [1]. However, inflammation depends on both environmental factors as well as immune system efficiency [2, 3]. Mechanisms of the immune response depend on different populations of cells and their secreted mediators [4–7]. Expression profile analysis of immune system genes in the mammary gland tissues of both healthy animals and those infected by different pathogens may help explain the specific immune response mechanisms. Furthermore, these analyses could indicate the tissue-specific physiological processes and biochemical pathways involved in different types of infections. Moreover, this knowledge could be essential for the therapy and eradication of mastitis [5]. Microarray technology enables the user to measure vast amounts of gene expression data under different physiological circumstances simultaneously, and, therefore, it allows for the identification of the genes involved in the defense of the host against microbial infection [8]. It also aids in understanding the processes that occur during mastitis [9].

Studies on gene expression profiles in mammary gland tissues and bovine milk leukocytes have been previously performed. Swanson et al. (2009) [10] reported differences in the expression level of several hundred genes in response to an infection by Streptococcus uberis, including a large number of genes associated with the immune system. Mitterhuemer et al. [11] studied the influence of Escherichia coli on the local (infected quarters) and systemic (neighboring quarters) transcriptome in the mammary glands of dairy cattle. They revealed that local inflammation influenced the expression of genes engaged in the immune response and inflammation, while the systemic response covered the expression of genes involved in antigen processing and presentation, cytokines, protein degradation, and apoptosis. Lützow et al. (2008) [12] identified two main groups of genes (gene clusters) differentially expressed in the mammary gland of cows in response to infection by Staphylococcus aureus. The up-regulated genes encoded proteins involved in intracellular signaling, primarily cytokines and chemokines. The genes with lower expression were encoded for extracellular matrix proteins, cellular cytoskeleton proteins, receptors, and intracellular signaling proteins. Moreover, Gilbert et al. [13] found that crude E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the endotoxin of the Gram-negative bacteria, stimulated expression of many more genes than the S. aureus infection did. They also stated that LPS induced different mechanisms of leukocyte enrollment.

However, most of these studies were carried out either in vitro on cultured cells derived from mammary gland tissues [10, 13, 14], on experimentally infected animals [10–12], or on milk somatic cells derived from mastitic cows [15]. Moreover, it should be noted that Krappmann et al. [16] proved that mammary gland epithelial cells, obtained from milk somatic cells using magnetic beads, probably did not reflect the metabolic processes proceeding in secretory cells of the mammary gland itself; therefore, they could not substitute the study on the mammary gland biopsies. Other researchers comparing results obtained in vitro and in vivo in different tissues draw similar conclusion in that the in vitro study does not fully reflect the conditions occurring in the living organism [10, 17–19]. Thus, the present study was performed in vivo in animals with recurrent and incurable mammary gland inflammation. The aim of the study was transcriptional profiling and bioinformatics analysis of genes expressed in secretory tissue (parenchyma) derived from dairy cow mammary glands naturally infected with coagulase-positive and coagulase-negative Staphylococci in comparison with those of healthy mammary glands.

The microbiological status of the collected mammary gland samples, as well as information on the average lactose content and milk somatic cell count, was presented in detail previously [20]. Briefly, the microbial status showed that 30% of studied samples were free from bacterial pathogens. In the remaining samples, only bacteria from Staphylococcus genus were found. The lowest level of somatic cells was found in milk of healthy cows being in 1st or 2nd lactations and the highest in the milk of cows in 3rd or 4th lactations infected with coagulase-positive Staphylococci.

Comparing transcript levels in the secretory epithelial tissue of cows infected with coagulase-positive Staphylococci in the 1st or 2nd lactation (group CoPS-1/2) and in healthy cows (H) identified 1700 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), meeting the criteria of log FC > 0.5 and P < 0.05. Among these genes, 1360 were up-regulated and 340 were down-regulated in bacteria-infected cows. For these genes, 223 biological processes, 85 molecular functions, and 36 cellular component categories were ascribed (Additional files 1 and 2). In the bacteria-infected udders, DEGs were associated with the immune defense response, immune system processes, response to wounding, amino acid transport, transportation of metabolic oxoacids, and ketone metabolic processes. When genes were classified according to their molecular functions, the DEGs were responsible for the activities of chemokines, cytokines and their receptors, protein binding, transmembrane transporter activity, and nucleotide binding. The cellular component genes included those encoding proteins of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) classes I and II. Ten categories of the most differentially expressed genes representing biological processes, molecular functions, and cellular components are shown in Additional file 3: Figure S1. The charts show the categories hierarchized according to increasing P values.

A comparison of the transcriptomes of cows from the CoPS-1/2 and H groups identified the network of genes responsible for the migration of immune cells. In this network, the “nodes” represent key genes up-regulated in the CoPS-1/2 group: MMP7 (matrix metallopeptidase7), PLAU (plasminogen activator, urokinase), ANXA2 (annexin A2), COL1A1 (collagen, type I, alpha 1), and TIMP1 (TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor 1). In Additional file 3: Figure S2, the “cellular movement, hematological system development and function, immune cell trafficking” network is presented with differentially expressed genes and key genes included in this network.

KEGG biochemical pathway analysis

To determine over-represented biochemical pathways, including genes up-regulated during Staphylococci infections, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database was searched (Table 1). In cows from the CoNS-1/2 group several pathways associated with the body’s response to the presence of bacteria were identified. For all pathways, the differences between infected and non-infected udders were significant at P < 0.05. Importantly, all identified pathways were associated with immunological processes. A comparison of groups CoPS-1/2 vs. H identified 10 pathways, including genes involved in the immune response. Analysis of CoPS-3/4 vs. H groups identified 12 pathways and CoNS-3/4 vs. H revealed 11 pathways. For all three comparisons, changes in pathways of complement and coagulation cascades, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, antigen processing and presentation, leukocyte trans-endothelial migration, nucleotide oligomerization domain (NOD)-like and Toll-like receptors, chemokine signaling and cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) were identified.

Table 1

Pathways and number of genes up- or down-regulated in CoPS-1/2, CoPS-3/4, and CoNS-3/4 bovine groups

Pathway

No. of genes

CoPS-1/2

CoPS-3/4

CoNS-3/4

Complement and coagulation cascades

22

21

18

Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction

31

19

22

Chemokine signaling pathway

25

25

18

Antigen processing and presentation

13

19

18

NOD-like receptor signaling pathway

11

15

10

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs)

16

24

14

Leukocyte trans-endothelial migration

16

22

12

Toll-like receptor signaling pathway

13

14

11

Gap junction

12

–

–

T cell receptor signaling pathway

–

17

–

Natural killer cell mediated cytotoxicity

–

15

–

Immune network for IgA production

12

12

10

Cytosolic DNA-sensing pathway

–

8

–

In pathways associated with the response of the mammary gland secretory tissues to the bacteria, approximately 10 to 30 DEGs were found, making the detected paths highly significant (with P-values ranging from 5 × 10−2 to 5 × 10−9). Figure 1 shows an example diagram of the signaling pathway of a Toll-like receptor together with the selected DEGs comparing the CoPS-3/4 vs. H groups. The figure shows the dependence of the complement cascade and cytokine pathways on the Toll-like receptor pathway. DEGs in the CoPS-3/4 vs. H comparison were involved in metabolic reactions leading to complement and cytokine pathways.

Fig. 1

Gene map of the signaling pathways of the Toll-like receptor, activation of complement and interaction of cytokines (shown only partly) derived from the KEGG database. Genes showing significantly different expression in the CoPS-3/4 vs. H groups are marked with red asterisks. The figure shows the dependence of complement activation and cytokine pathways on the Toll-like receptor pathway (red arrows). Differentially expressed genes are located on the paths leading to the complement and cytokine pathways

Identification of functional gene clusters

Bioinformatics analysis of microarray results showed that the identified DEGs were involved in multiple biological processes. Clustering analysis using the DAVID Functional Clustering Module allowed for a more accurate classification and interpretation of results. Several clusters were identified in each of the transcriptomes. Functional clustering showed that identified clusters were primarily associated with immunological processes (Additional file 10). Analysis of samples collected from cows assigned to the groups CoPS-1/2, CoPS-3/4, CoNS-1/2, and CoNS-3/4 showed six, eight, four, and five clusters, respectively. These clusters contained groups of genes associated with the immune response, antigen presentation, MHC proteins, chemotaxis of leukocytes, leukocyte adhesion, activity of chemokines and cytokines, complement activation, humoral response, B-cell activity, and activity of immunoglobulins. Furthermore, in samples taken from the CoPS-3/4 group, a cluster No. 4, consisting of genes associated with metabolism and biosynthesis of lipids and fatty acid was identified. In samples derived from the CoNS-1/2 animals, three additional clusters were identified and were associated with the serine-threonine kinase receptor signaling pathway, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), and a cluster of genes related to the organization of cytoskeletal actin.

Validation of selected genes by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR)

Validation of microarray results was performed to confirm the accuracy of the transcriptomic analysis for each of the four comparisons using individual, unpooled mRNA samples. The relative transcript levels of validated genes were compared between infected and non-infected samples within age groups separately (lactations 1/2 and 3/4). In concordance with the microarray results, the levels of SAA3 (serum amyloid A3), CFB (complement factor B), and CP (cytoplasmic polyadenylation) were higher in both CoPS and both CoNS group samples. Moreover, comparisons between CoPS-1/2 and H-1/2 groups and CoPS-3/4 and H-3/4 groups revealed that, in both CoPS groups, HP (haptoglobin) and IL8 (interleukin 8) gene transcripts were higher than in H groups, while the levels of CA6 (Carbonic anhydrase 6) and CA4 (Carbonic anhydrase 4) were higher in H-1/2 and H-3/4 groups, respectively. In the CoNS-3/4 group, HP gene expression was higher than in H-3/4 group, similar to both CoPS groups. Patterns of gene expression in cow mammary parenchyma, as measured with real-time PCR (qPCR) between particular groups (CoNS and CoPS vs. H) according to lactation status, are shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2

Validation of microarray analysis using real-time PCR. The relative levels of mRNA expressed are shown as the mean (with standard error – SE) of six animals. Groups differ from each other significantly at *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001

In the present study, hundreds of genes are differentially expressed in the parenchyma derived from infected cows’ mammary glands as compared to healthy ones. The highest number of DEGs, 2200 genes, was identified in CoPS-3/4 group. The infection caused by coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS) influenced a smaller number of genes in this age group – 1200. Cows in lactations 1/2 were also characterized by different gene expression profiles; the numbers of DEGs were 1200 and 418 in the CoPS and CoNS groups, respectively. These results reflected the complex nature of the mammary tissue response to infection with Staphylococcus bacteria. The intricacy and complexity of gene expression patterns associated with S. aureus infections, both in blood leukocytes and milk somatic cells (MSCs), were emphasized by other researchers [15]. Moreover, the inflammation of mammary glands of other species, such as goat or pig exposed either to Mycoplasma agalactiae (goat) or to E. coli and S. aureus (pig), also resulted in many differentially expressed genes in the early response (until 24 h) to infection [21, 22].

Functional classification of genes

Classifying DEGs according to their ontology, and so grouping them into similar categories in terms of gene function, identified a number of biological processes, molecular functions, and cellular components primarily involved in the immune response. In young cows infected with coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS-1/2), increased expression levels of CFB, CFH, and C4BP were found, encoding complement system factors B and H as well as C4b-binding protein, respectively. In humans, these factors are an important part of the complement system acting against microbial infections [23] Similar results to ours were obtained by Rinaldi et al. [24] and Whelehan et al. [9]. These authors reported increased expression of acute phase proteins in mammary tissues infected with E. coli compared to bacteria free-tissues. Furthermore, the results of Whelehan et al. [9] showed elevated levels of SAA3 gene transcripts (SAA3 encodes components of serum amyloid A, belonging to acute phase proteins that act as opsonins) in the udder parenchyma of cows infected with S. aureus. In the present study, in CoPS-3/4 and CoNS-3/4 groups, as well as in CoPS-1/2 group, higher expression levels of genes encoding proteins of the canonical pathway of complement activation complex (C6, C1S, C1QA, C1QB, and C4BP) and the alternative route of the complement system (CFB and CFH) were observed. This is an interesting observation as the complement system is an example of cooperation between specific and non-specific immune mechanisms [25]. Activation of the complement pathway is important for a rapid response against pathogens, before an organism is able to develop specific mechanisms that operate slowly but more effectively. Numerous studies have reported activation by S. aureus of both alternative and classical complement pathways [26, 27], which is consistent with our results showing the activation of genes encoding proteins belonging to both pathways of complement action. Most of these genes, however, belong to the classical complement pathway, which could be due to the recurrent udder inflammation in the examined cows, resulting in production of specific antibodies activating the classical complement pathway. Two pathways of complement activation do not operate completely independently. The C3b component, generated by the classical pathway, can be deposited on the cell surface and thus may further initiate the formation of the alternative pathway. In the CoNS-1/2 group, the immune response to the pathogen relies on the activation of the alternative complement pathway. This may indicate that the organism of a young animal is able to combat infection without the activation of specific immune mechanisms, or that it meets with this certain type of bacteria for the first time.

In CoPS-1/2, CoPS-3/4, and CoNS-3/4 groups, four DEGs were identified with increased expression associated with antigen processing and presentation - BOLA-DQB, BOLA-DRB3, BOLA-DQA2, and BOLA-DQA1. These genes and the encoded proteins are critical for the immune system to clear infections [28]. Most studies confirm the paramount importance of class I and class II MHC molecules, which are key in resistance to infection not only in human [29] but also in goat and bovine, including resistance to mastitis [30–32]. Fitzpatrick et al. [33] showed MHC-II up-regulation in the connective tissue derived from S. uberis bacteria-infected cow udders. Swanson et al. [10] also reported a higher HLA-DRA (in human: HLA class II histocompatibility antigen, DR alpha chain) gene expression in the mammary tissues of cows after intramammary infection with S. uberis but not in healthy tissues. Moreover, Brand et al., [30] listed several genes belonging to the major histocompatibility complex (HLA-DMA, HLA-DMB, HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1, HLA-DRA, and HLA-DRB1) as a part of a “dendritic cell maturation” canonical pathway, which was affected by mastitic bacteria. According to Bonnefont et al. [34], the subunits of MHC class II, namely DQA1, DQA2, and DRB1, were also affected by S. aureus.

Biochemical pathways

Two biochemical pathways were involved in the bovine immune response to infection with Staphylococcus bacteria: the Toll-like receptors pathway and the cytokine receptor interaction pathway. TLRs are membrane receptors that play a key role in the innate immune system, recognizing structurally conserved molecules derived from different microorganisms. Cells of the immune system which recognize the molecular patterns of a pathogen with TLRs, include macrophages and dendritic cells that respond to membrane components of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria [35]. Stimulation of these cells by a pathogen through TLRs induces rapid activation of the innate immune mechanisms, manifested by increased synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines and activation of dendritic cells [36]. Toll-like receptors are located on the surface of macrophages, whose activation leads to the synthesis of TNF and IL-8 [12]. In our study, in the signaling pathway of Toll-like receptors, genes such as TNF, IL-8, CXCL10 (Chemokine Ligand 10 – C-X-C Motif)), and CD40 (TNF receptor superfamily) have been identified. This observation confirmed the results of other authors who have shown increased expression of TNF, IL-8, CXCL10, and CD40 antigen genes in tissues of cow udders experimentally infected with E. coli and S. aureus [12, 37]. Moreover, Bonnefont et al. [34] stressed that the components of the chemokine signaling pathway are affected by S. aureus infection. The proteins encoded by TNF, IL-8, CXCL10, and CD40 genes (the same for both types of infections) are closely related to inflammation and are essential for the activation of neutrophils and their migration to sites of inflammation in the infected mammary gland. On the basis of our study, it can be concluded that bacterial infections by coagulase-positive and coagulase-negative Staphylococci evoke similar reactions in the innate immune system. This was also evidenced by the fact that the Toll-like receptors pathway leads to the activation of the next two pathways, which are also shared by both bacterial infections (CoPS and CoNS). One is the complement activation pathway, which involves the genes discussed above in relation to the process of acute inflammation. Another biochemical pathway involved in mammary gland response to bacterial pathogens is the cytokine receptor interaction pathway. In our study, in all groups of cows infected with Staphylococci bacteria, a higher level of expression was found for genes encoding chemokine receptors CXCR4, CXCR6, and CX3CR1 (also known as the fractalkine receptor) as compared to the healthy groups of cows. Günther at el. [38], in a study on the secretory epithelial cells of bovine mammary glands infected with E. coli, showed an important role of the fractalkine receptor and other CXC receptors in the recruitment and migration of leukocytes to sites of inflammation. Additionally, results of studies on goat and porcine mammary gland epithelial cells also indicated on the influence of the infection on cytokine and chemokine expression levels [21, 22].

Functional gene networks

Comparing CoPS-1/2 cows with controls, we identified a network of differentially expressed genes responsible for the migration of immune cells. In this network, CD44, PLAU, and MMP7 genes can be distinguished, and they are strongly linked to other genes of the determined network. The CD44 gene encodes a glycoprotein, the hyaluronain receptor, which is an important component of the extracellular matrix [39]. The interaction of CD44 with the glycoprotein hyaluronate (HA) has an important role in the adhesion of leukocytes to the vascular endothelium, as well as their migration to the sites of inflammation [40]. The results of more recent studies showed elevated CD44 expression in inflammation of the cow mammary gland, particularly in the early stages of the inflammatory response [41]. The increased expression of CD44 found in our study in a group of younger individuals (1st or 2nd lactations) may be indicative of the acute inflammation and tissue damage.

The PLAU gene encodes the urokinase plasminogen activator, which is a part of the fibrinolytic system. PLAU is a protease that converts plasminogen to plasmin by specific cleavage of the plasminogen protein [42]. The results of studies conducted by Lincoln and Leigh [43] and Moyes et al. [44] on a group of dairy cows infected with S. uberis also showed induction of the PLAU gene. The authors interpreted this result as an indicator of S. uberis virulence, causing inflammation of the mammary gland of cows. Plasmin catalyzes the degradation of fibrin and laminin to soluble peptides. Its activity is connected with elevated permeability of the epithelial barrier in the mammary gland during inflammation. The other function of plasmin is activation of MMP precursors [42]. Disintegration of these proteins is carried out either by direct action of plasmin, or indirectly through its activating effect on the MMP precursor cascade [45]. This corresponds to the results of our study, which also demonstrated the activation of the MMP7 metalloproteinase gene, undergoing higher expression in the cows from the CoPS-1/2 group than in controls. Increased expression of the MMP7 gene may result in the degradation of the extracellular matrix and the migration of immune cells to sites of inflammation.

In CoNS-3/4 and CoPS-3/4 groups, four and five significant intergenic networks were identified, respectively, which could be ascribed to two common key gene nodes: TNF and FOS. Furthermore, when comparing CoPS-1/2 cows with healthy ones, the IL1-β node (key) gene was identified. It exhibited, inseparably with TNF, activity in inflammation [5]. The TNF, IL1-β, and FOS genes belong to the Toll-like receptor and cytokine receptor interaction signaling pathways, and they were also identified in the CoPS-3/4 experimental group. The FOS gene encodes a transcription factor that is a component of the JUN/AP-1 trans-activating complex. In the basic state of a cell, FOS has a very low level of expression, but its transcript level increases within several minutes after stimulation by S. uberis; therefore, this gene is called “the early response gene” [43, 44]. It is involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, and transformation [46]. Lützow et al. [12], after challenging bovine mammary tissues with S. aureus, showed increased expression of the FOS gene, which is involved in the TLR-2 and TLR-4 signaling pathway. In the studies of S. uberis infection, the FOS gene was shown to be a component of IL-6 and IL-10 signaling pathways [44].

AP1 has been reported play a crucial role in signaling pathways related to bacterial infections [47]. Functional AP1 sites have been identified in promoters of cytokine (interleukins, interferons) encoding genes [48–50] and other genes participating in the immune response. The C-JUN NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) regulates AP1 transcription factor activity and stimulates expression of pro-inflammatory mediators such as TNF [51]. The increased expression of the FOS gene found in our study indicated a strong stress caused by infection with coagulase-negative and coagulase-negative Staphylococci.

The IL1B gene encodes a protein that is a member of the cytokine – interleukin-1β family. This protein is produced by monocytes/macrophages and epithelial cells [5], whereas the TNF-α and TNF-β genes encode multifunctional pro-inflammatory cytokines that belong to the family of tumor necrosis factors (TNF) [52]. TNF-α plays an important role in the lactating cow’s mammary gland by mediating immune inflammatory responses in mastitis [53]. TNF mediates most pro-inflamatory effects that occur upon bacterial infection by promoting NFkB and MAPK activation [47]. Our identification of the proinflammatory cytokine genes as nodal (key) genes indicates their important role in the immune response induced by the two groups of bacteria studied (CoPS and CoNS). These results confirm those found in the literature, as the TNF-β and IL-1 cytokines were previously identified as the most important pro-inflammatory cytokines produced in inflammation. They are also critical in inflammation of the mammary gland of cows caused by S. aureus and E. coli [12, 54, 55]. As shown by Xiu et al. [56] other cytokines (e.g. Il-8; IL-1-alpha), including chemokines (chemokine ligand 5 – CXCL5; chemokine ligand 5 – C-C motif; chemokine receptor 7 – CXCL7) were upregulated after infection caused by S. aureus.

Infection of cow mammary gland parenchyma with coagulase-negative or -positive Staphylococci affected genes, which encode proteins showing the same and/or similar molecular functions. Our results provided evidence that coagulase-positive Staphylococci caused a much stronger host response than coagulase-negative, resulting in increased number of DEGs as compared with uninfected tissues. Moreover, the response of the udder parenchyma to a Staphyllococci infection was stronger in older cows (lactations three or four) than was observed in younger ones (lactations one or two). Gene network analysis predicted DEGs associated with inflammation, cell migration, and the immune response to the infection site, as well as a humoral response in infections caused by both coagulase-positive and coagulase-negative groups of Staphylococci.

In both types of infections, caused either by coagulase-positive or coagulase-negative Staphylococci, a marked increase was observed in the expression levels of FOS and TNF genes, and genes encoding the major histocompatibility system proteins (MHC)-BOLA-DQB, BOLA-DRB3, or BOLA-DQA1. Therefore, we suggest that these particular genes play a key role in immune response synchronization of the cow’s udder secretory tissues to mastitis-causing bacteria.

Based on the results of microarray study, the following genes belonging to several physiological pathways (KEGG pathways) were selected for further studies: chemokine signaling pathway (CCL2, CXCL5, HCK,CCR1), cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) pathway (BOLA-DQA2, BOLA-DQA1, F11R, ITGAL, CD86), antigen processing and presentation pathway (CD8A, PDIA3, LGMN, IFI30, HSPA1A), and NOD-like receptor signaling pathway (TNF, IL8, IL18, NFKBIA). The listed genes are considered “main genes” involved in mammary gland defense, and these gene polymorphism study has already started to find the associations with resistance to mastitis aiming to include results to MAS in the future. Moreover, epigenetic studies have been conducted in parallel.

Animals and sample collection

The study was conducted on 30 Holstein-Friesian (HF) dairy cows of the Polish Black and White variety, between the first and fourth lactations. The animals were born and maintained in the Experimental Farm of Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding in Jastrzębiec, Poland, and they were under constant veterinary supervision. The feeding and maintenance conditions of the animals were previously described [20]. Animals were culled at the third stage of lactation because of reproduction problems (without mastitis) or recurrent and incurable mammary gland infections caused by coagulase-positive or coagulase-negative Staphylococci. They were slaughtered in a registered slaughterhouse under constant monitoring conditions by the institutional authorities. The parenchyma samples were taken from deep in the secretory portion of the gland from each quarter immediately after slaughter. The authors were interested in the processes taking place only in parenchyma, therefore, the samples were rinsed in PBS to remove milk and blood from tissue samples and frozen in liquid nitrogen (120 samples total). Milk samples were taken from each quarter two days before slaughter and examined for the presence of bacteria. The exact methodology of the microbiological investigation was previously described [20] and is also shown in Additional file 11.

Tissue samples

The samples were divided into five groups according to the lactation number and health status of the mammary gland, which was established on the basis of previous analysis of the presence of Staphylococci infection in quarter milk, somatic cell count (SCC) (IBCM, Bentley, USA), and lactose content (Fossomatic FT2, FOSS, Denmark). The control group (H) consisted of samples collected from healthy, pathogen-free mammary glands, and one sample was harvested from one cow. Three pathogen-free samples from each of the four lactations were taken for analysis (N = 12). The next four groups of samples were divided according to the type of pathogen bacteria and parity (cows with unfinished somatic development, being in the first and second lactations, or cows with complete somatic development, being in the third or fourth lactations). These four groups consisted of samples collected from cows with infections caused by coagulase-negative Staphylococci, being in their 1st or 2nd lactations or in the 3rd or 4thlactations (CoNS-1/2 and CoNS-3/4, respectively) and infected with coagulase-positive staphylococci in the 1st/2nd or 3rd/4th lactations (CoPS-1/2 and CoPS-3/4, respectively). Each group consisted of six samples derived from six different animals.

The details of total RNA isolation from cow udder secretory tissues were described previously [20]. For each group, three independent RNA pools were obtained by mixing six individual RNA samples from bovine mammary glands, and one mg of pooled RNA was reverse transcribed using the Quick Amp Labeling Kit, Two-Color (Agilent, USA), according to the manufacturer’s protocol. For the arrays, combined RNA samples were hybridized in biological duplicates, and two technical replicates were performed for each hybridization. In both biological repetitions, the RNA samples were collected from the same individuals but from different udder quarters with the same health status. The total number of hybridizations was 16 (4 hybridizations for each of the treatment groups: CoPS-1/2, CoPS-3/4, CoNS-1/2, and CoNS-3/4). Hybridizations were performed to compare control RNA derived from healthy individuals, being in the first to fourth lactations (H-1/2/3/4). Established reference, control RNA represents standardized sample of physiologically “healthy” mammary gland RNA for the purpose of analysis and to help streamline and optimize of designed gene expression studies [57]. The broad representation of RNA in designed reference makes the control RNA useful to study of diseased mammary gland transcriptome regardless of the stage of lactation and the age of exanimated animals.

Microarray validation

Real-Time PCR (qPCR) was used to validate the microarray results. Ten genes that belonged to different functional clusters and differed in expression (p ≤ 0.05) between the control and CoNS-1/2, CoNS-3/4, CoPS-1/2, and CoPS-3/4 were selected for qPCR. These were: HP, SAA3, CFB, CP, IL8, CA6, CA4, RYR3, ULBP3, and GPAM. The real-time PCR validations were performed in triplicate of individual (unpooled) RNA samples.

Two reference genes were selected as the most stably expressed in the present experimental design, belonging to different functional classes from six housekeeping genes (HKGs) (Β-actin – ACTB, Glyceraldehyde-3P-dehydrogenase – GAPDH, Succinate dehydrogenase complex subunit A – SDHA, TATA box-binding protein – TATABP, Zeta polypeptide – YWHAZ, and Hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase1 – HPRT1). The M-values of all putative reference genes were low and ranged between 0.6 and 0.3, and thus all met the criteria for proper references. However, HPRT1 and TBP demonstrated the greatest stability in bovine mammary gland in the present experimental conditions and, therefore, were selected as references. The primer sequences, amplicon length, melting temperature, and GenBank accession numbers of both housekeeping and validated genes are summarized in Additional file 13.

Real-Time PCR amplification was performed with the Light Cycler 480 system (Roche, Germany) using 96-well optical plates with the SYBR Green technique. A PCR mix was prepared in a total volume of 20 μl: 10 μl water, 1 μl forward primer (10 μM), 1 μl reverse primer (10 μM), 2 μl cDNA, and 10 μl SYBR Green I Master Mix (2×) (Roche, Germany). The following amplification program was used: 5 min pre-incubation at 95 °C; 45 cycles amplification with 10 s at 95 °C for denaturation, 15 s at 58-60 °C for annealing, and 20 s at 72 °C for elongation. Negative controls (no cDNA) were run in the same reaction set. A dissociation stage was added to verify the presence of a gene specific peak and the absence of primer-dimer peaks. Real-time products were separated and assessed on 2% agarose gels.

Data normalization methods and selection of differently expressed genes are described in Additional file 14.

Acknowledgments

Not applicable.

Funding

Research was realized within the project “BIOFOOD – innovative, functional products of animal origin” no. POIG.01.01.02-014-090/09, co-financed by the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund within the Innovative Economy Operational Programme 2007 – 2013″ and the National Science Centre of Poland No. NN311075339.

The publication was supported by KNOW Leading National Research Centre – Scientific Consortium „Healthy Animal – Safe Food”.

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Authors’ contributions

EMK conceived the study and participated in its design, sample collection, data acquisition, molecular genetics studies including microarray analysis, analysis and interpretation of data, and drafting of the manuscript. PL participated in the study design and data analysis and interpretation. JJ participated in sample collection, data acquisition, molecular genetics studies, and drafting of the manuscript. AM performed microarray analysis. MR performed microbiological examination. DS participated in the laboratory work and data collection. LZ participated in data interpretation and critically revised the final approval of the manuscript version to be published. EB conceived the study and participated in its design, sample collection, data acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting of the manuscript and study coordination. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Not applicable.

Ethics approval

All procedures involving animals were performed in accordance with the Guiding Principles for the Care and Use of Research Animals and were approved by the Local Ethics Commission III (Warsaw University of Life Sciences; Permission No. 27/2009).

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Additional file 10: Table S1.Gene clusters differing in expression between the CoPS-1/2 (coagulase-positive Staphyloccoci in 1st or 2nd lactation) and H (Healthy) groups in the parenchyma of the cow mammary gland. Table S2. Gene clusters differing in expression between the CoPS-3/4 (coagulase-positive Staphyloccoci in 3rd or 4th lactation) and H (Healthy) groups in the parenchyma of the cow mammary gland. Table S3. Gene clusters differing in expression between the CoNS-1/2 (coagulase-negative Staphyloccoci in 1st or 2nd lactation) and H (Healthy) groups in the parenchyma of the cow mammary gland. Table S4. Gene clusters differing in expression between the CoNS-3/4 (coagulase-positive Staphyloccoci in 3rd or 4th lactation) and H (Healthy) groups in the parenchyma of the cowmammary gland. (DOCX 65 kb)